Tray or the like



June 10 1924. ,497,486

POSTING R Filed RAY O Aug. 1

THE LIKE 8 1.921 2 Sheets-Sheet i i ,fi

1' l 45 'i ,f 4J "l g l i 2 46 "I z '1 y i; 23m

' June 10 1924., l 1,497,486

E. J. CARD ET AL POSTING TRAY OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 1B. :921 2 Sheena-sheet 2 may 7 5% yqnw Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL J. CARD AND JOSEPH TUR-NER, F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNRS T0 ART METAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF .TAMESTOWN, NEVI YO'RK.

POSTING- TRAY 0R THE LIKE.

Application tiled August 18, 1921.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, Earn. d'. CARD and JOSEPH E. TURNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Posting Trays or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to posting trays, file boxes or receptacles of the type adapted to be used to house a plurality of loose ledger leaves, sheets or cards to facilitate examination of the sheets and the posting or transfer of items thereon in connection with ledger or machine bookkeeping` or the like.

The objects of this invention are to pro vide a desirable, strong and durable posting tray or file box which` may be easily and inexpensively constructed of sheet metal and which consists of relatively few parts; also to provide a device of the character stated which is light in weight and constructed so as to be reinforced at essential points to` stand lia-rd wear and usage; also to provide improvements in the compressors used in such trays for holding` the sheets. Further objects are to improve posting `trays and tile boxes in the respects hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a posting tray embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof with the cover removed and showing the sheets released for examination.

Fig. 3 .is a perspective AView of one of the end reinforcing straps thereof.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on line 5 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on line (5MG, Fig. 5 but on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7m?, Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 a plan view of a portion of the front edge of the tray showing the lock keeper.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9, Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10, Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section through the t 1ay with the compressor slides removed and on a reduced scale.

The posting device of this invention, as usual, comprises a tray or receptacle and a Serial No. 493,209.

pair of compressors between which the cards or sheets may be clamped and held immov able in the tray, and one or both of which are movable to release the sheets so that they can be examined. The compressors are further provided with hinged or pivoted plate portions so that the sheets may be supportedV loosely in inclined positions in the tray to facilitate the manipulation of the sheets and the examination of the data thereon. Preferably the tray is also provided with a removable cover and a movable seat or setting up device in which the cards or sheets may be placed in an inclined stepped position. to further facilitate the handling or turning of the same.

The tray or body portion A consists of sides 10, ends 1l and a bottom 12. `Bottom plate 12 is preferably provided with a longitudinal channel 13 having therein a pair of opposite, inwardly projecting, spaced tongues 14. In the tray illustrated, the spaced tongues 14 are formed on a separate retaining member 15 suitably secured in the channel 13. As illustrated, the sides l() and the bottom `1Q, are preferably formed from a single plate or sheet of metal which is suitably bent to form the channel 13 and to provide longitudinal channel flanges 16 at the lower edges of the sides, which channel flanges are reinforced by inserted bars or members 17. 18 designates feet or support ing members of felt or other suitable material connected to the channel-forming portions 16 by suitable bolts 19 or the like.

The upper edges of the sides 10 are preferably formed so as to provide along the same hollow oi'tubular reinforcing flanges 21 on the inside of the tray. As best illus trated in Fig. 9, these reinforcing flanges are formed by bending the upper edges of the side plates inwardly and thence downwardly, outwardly and downwardly, and weldingor otherwise securing the lower edge ofthe bent portion to the body of the side wall as at 22. As illustrated in Figs. 4, 7 and 10, the front end of the tray is reinforced by a stiff metal U-shaped strap (shown detached .in Fig. 3), which has a front portion 23 and ends 24 that extend a distance toward the rear of the tray. This reinforcing strap is welded or otherwise suitably secured in a downwardly opening channel 25 formed along the upper edge of the front end of the tray, preferably by bending the upper edge of the end plate ll inwardly and down wardly, and the ends 24 of the strap are similarly secured in the front portions of the side reinforcing flanges 2l, the bottoms of which are cut away, as shown in Figs. 6 and 10,4 to permit the insertion of the strap. The stili', bent strap 23 extending across the front end, around the corners and part way along the sides of the tray in the hollow lianges thereof, makes the corners and end wall ot the tray very strong and rigid. A similar reinforcing strap 23a is preferably similarly secured to the opposite end wall of the tray and like strap 23 preferably has ends secured inthe side reinforcing lianges 2l. r t the front end of the tray, as shown in Figs. 1L

and 6,a. pair of bearing plates 26 are spotwelded or otherwise secured to the ends of'therreinforcing strap and to the side wall ofthe tray as illustrated at 27 and 28 re* .spectively The sides and ends of the tray arepreferably formed at the corners of the tray ywith overlapping vertical flanges which are welded together or secured by other suitable means as at 29, see Fig. l1. The bottom 12r is preferably formed with end flanges 30 Which are welded to the end plates l1 and the end plates ll preferably terminate at their lower edges in inturned flanges 3l.

32 designate a pair of handles, one at each end of the tray and suitably connected to the end reinforcing straps 23 and 23a as by bolts or the like 33. 34 designates a lock keeper secured to thev upper edge of the front end Wall, 'the channel-forming portion of the 'i front end plate'being cut away to permit of the'attachment of the vertical leg of the angle-'shaped'lock keeper to the rear side of the reinforcing Strap 23, where it is welded as at 36. The lock keeper 34 is provided with the-usual opening 35 to receive the bolt ot the cover lock.

37 designates the front compressor plate whichr is' preferably pivoted to the bottom plate'so that it may be swung in the tray to hold the cards or sheets upright as shown in Fig. 1, or permit them to rest at an inclinationto the bottom of the tray as shown in Fig. 2. In the preferred form illustrated, the compressor plate is provided with a pair of bottom tongues 3S which extend through apertures 39 in the bottom of the tray and are held against unintentional removal by cotter pins l() or the likeE which are inserted in holes in these tongues and permit the plate to be swung to dii'ferent inclinations in the tray. Means are provided for supporting the compressor plate 37 in the vertical and inclined positions. For this purpose, in the tray shown the bearing plates 26 at the sides of the tray have angle slots 4l Whiehare engaged by the ends of a crank rod 42 or the .like mounted to rock on the compressor plate. The angle slots as shown the rod. The rod 4t2 is preferably connected to the compressor plate by bearing straps 43 and has its ends ollset as at .4A- so that when the ends of the rod are in the lowermost portions ot slots Ll1., the compressor plate will be held in vertical position, as shown in Fig. G. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. when the ends ot the rod are moved upwardly and then forward to the front ends o't` the slots ll, the compressor plate is maintained in a forwardly inclined position. The crank rod also preferably has an ollfset central portion which serves as a handle for rocking the rod to engage its ends in one or the other portions of the angle slots il.

Tie rear or adjustable compressor plate or follower'. which is designated as 45 in the drawings, is of known form comprising a standard or member 46 which is adjustable longitudinally in the tray, and a card or sheet supporting plate 4T pivoted to the standard as at 48. The standard 46 of this compressor il5 is slidably engaged with the channel 13 in the tray bottom and is pro` vided with the usual locking lever or dog 4S) by means oit which it is frietionally held in adjusted positions in the tray. The card or sheet supporting plate Lifi' carries a pivoted pawl 50 which, as illustrated in Fig. 2. has a notched portion 5l for engaging an edge of the adjustable standard fl-(, when the plate fl-T is moved out of the vertical to maintain the plate in an inclined position.

designates a setting-up device wheh is adapted to be positioned in the rear of the tray when the cards or sheets are locked between the compressors, as .shown in Fig. l., and which, as shown in Fig. 2, is adapted to be positioned between the compressor plates so as to stand in the tray at a rear ward inclination when the cards or sheets are in use. This setting-up device 52 is provided with a tongue 53 which takes into the channel 13 in the bottom of the tray and has a forwardly and upwardly inclined bottom portion 5l on which the lower edges of the cards or sheets rest so that the upper edges of the cards or sheets are maintained in stepped relation in positions favorable to easy handling.

The side ialle l() of the tray are provided with holes or openings 55 in registrationwith a portion of slots -il so that an end of the crank rod Llf2 may be projected therethrough in order to permit the other end of the rod to be withdrawn from the slot and the front compressor plate 3T lifted out of the tray. after the cotter pins 40 have been withdrawn.

The top or cover B may be of any suitable construction and is provided with a lock 56, the bolt of which is adapted to engage keeper 3l for locking the cover to the tray. The lower edges of this cover or top are preferably formed as inwardly opening Sli :insmeren channels 57 which channels receive reintorcing strips 58 and 59 which are welded or otherwise secured therein, iis shown, these reinforcing strips 59 are preferably ci angle torni so that in the closed position ot the cover the upper horizontal flange et' the angle strip rests upon the upper edge oit the tray, as best shown in Fig. l.

The channel lianges at the upper side edges of the tray prevent dstoiftioin bending or buckling of those edges under conditions of severe usage and the channels with the reinforcing straps therein eiiieetively rein- :force the iront edges and corners oil: the tray and ensure that the tray 1Will maintain its original shape so as to readily receive the cover and that the loclr and loclr l-:eeper will be properly alined.

We claiin as our invention 1. In a posting tray or the lile, the conibination of a tray body having sides with integral tubular reinforcing portions at their upper edges, ends Vwith integral chan neled upper edges, reinforcing straps se cured in said end channels, said re ing straps having ends secured to said sidesq and slotted bearing plates adjacent the trout end of said tray and connected to said reinforcing strap ends adjacent; the liront ends of said tray and to the sides of said tray.-

2. ln a posting tray or the like, the conn bination ot a tray body having a bottoni, sides and ends, a pair of slotted bearing plates secured to said sides adjacent one, end oi the tray, a pivoted plate in said end of the tray, and releasable ronnections between said bearing plates and said. pivoted plate.

3. In a posting tray or the like, the conibination of a tray body having` a bottoni, sides and ends, a compressor` plate pivoted in the tray adjacent one end et the tray, a securing rod connected to said plate, and means at the sides of said tray cooperating with said securing rod lior holding said plate in different positions.

4. ln a posting tray or the like, the eonibination of a tray body having a bottoni, sides and ends, a compressor plate jggiivoted in the tray adjacent one end ol the tray, a securing rod connected to said plate, and rod-receiving seats at each side olf said tray, whereby the rod may be difliei'ently placed to hold said plate in dii'lierent positions.

5. In a posting tray or the like, the coin* bination of a tray body having a bottonn sides and ends, a compressor plate pivoted in the tray adjacent one end of the tray, a securing rod connected to said plate, a pair of bearing plates secured interiorly to the sides oi said tray, said bearingplates having slots therein providing different seats for the ends of said securing rod, whereby when the rod is moved to different positions in said slots said plate is held in different positions.

(i. lin a posting tray or the like, the coinbination of a tray body, a compressor plate pivoted in the tray, a securing rod journaled to roclr on said compressor plate and having oiilset ends, and angle seats provided interiorly at the sides oit the tray and into which the oi'fset ends olf said securing rod entend, whereby said compressor can be secured in different positions by rocking said rod to different engaging positions in said seats.

7. ln a posting tray or the like, t-he coinbination of a tray body having sides and a bottoni, an upstanding plate adapted to hold sheets in diilerent standing positions in said tray, a pair et spaced openings in said bottoni, a pair of tongues on the bottorn edge of said plate adapted to entend tlfirough the openings in said bottom, and Cotter pins extending through said tongues whereby said plate is pivotally and removably connerted to said tray bottom.

ln a posting tray or the like, the coinbination of a tray body having sides and a bottonn an upstanding plate adapted to hold sheets inA dii'lerent standing positions in said tray, a securing rod niovably connected to said plate, seats arranged interiorly at the sides of said tray for receiving the ends of said supporting rod, and an opening in one oit said sides and in registration ivith one of said seats, whereby said rod inay be nioved endivise in said opening to permit of the disengagement et the rod troni said seats and the removal of said plate from the tray.

9. ln a posting tray or the like, the conibination ott a tray body having a bottom and upright Walls, a cover having side walls, the lower edges of `which are 'formed as up ivardly opening channels, and angular reintorcing strips secured in said channels, said reinforcing strips having inwardly projecting ilanges adapted to seat on the npper edges ot said upright walls of the tray.

EARL J, CARD. JSEPH E. TURNER. 

